Delhi Capitals enter IPL 2026 under the captaincy of Axar Patel, one of the most exciting captaincy appointments of the season given the left-arm spinner’s aggressive playing style and deep understanding of the game. DC have never won an IPL title but have come agonisingly close, reaching the final in 2020. IPL 2026 represents another opportunity to go the distance. Here is the complete match-by-match schedule for Delhi Capitals across the full IPL 2026 league stage.
DC IPL 2026 — Key Details
Captain: Axar Patel. Home venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Total league stage matches: 14. Live streaming: JioHotstar. TV broadcast: Star Sports.
DC Complete IPL 2026 Match Schedule
Match 1: April 1, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, Lucknow. Away match. DC’s season opener.
Match 2: April 4, Saturday, 3:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, Delhi. Home match. First home game of the season. Afternoon fixture.
Match 3: April 8, Wednesday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans, Delhi. Home match.
Match 4: April 11, Saturday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Chennai. Away match.
Match 5: April 14, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Chennai. Away match.
Match 6: April 18, Saturday, 3:30 PM — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru. Away match. Afternoon fixture.
Match 7: April 21, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals, Hyderabad. Away match.
Match 8: April 25, Saturday, 3:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings, Delhi. Home match. Afternoon fixture.
Match 9: April 28, Monday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi. Home match.
Match 10: May 1, Friday, 7:30 PM — Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals, Jaipur. Away match.
Match 11: May 5, Tuesday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings, Delhi. Home match.
Match 12: May 8, Friday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi. Home match.
Match 13: May 11, Monday, 7:30 PM — Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Dharamsala. Away match.
Match 14: May 17, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals, Delhi. Home match.
Match 15: May 24, Sunday, 7:30 PM — Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals, Kolkata. Away match. Final league stage fixture.
DC Home Matches at a Glance
Delhi Capitals play seven home matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium across the league stage. Home fixtures fall on April 4, April 8, April 25, April 28, May 5, May 8, and May 17. The Arun Jaitley Stadium in the heart of Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla ground is one of the oldest and most historic cricket venues in India, with a passionate Delhi fanbase that has grown significantly as the capital’s cricket culture has deepened over the past decade. The pitch at Kotla historically favours spin bowling, which plays directly into the hands of DC’s captain Axar Patel.
DC Away Fixtures Summary
Delhi Capitals play seven away matches across six different cities. Lucknow hosts LSG vs DC on April 1, DC’s season opener. Chennai hosts CSK vs DC twice, on April 11 and April 14, giving DC back-to-back away visits to one of the most hostile venues for visiting teams in the IPL. Bengaluru hosts RCB vs DC on April 18. Hyderabad hosts SRH vs DC on April 21. Jaipur hosts RR vs DC on May 1. Dharamsala hosts PBKS vs DC on May 11. Kolkata hosts KKR vs DC on May 24, the final day of the league stage.
The Two Back-to-Back Chennai Fixtures
DC face Chennai Super Kings twice in quick succession, on April 11 and April 14, both at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Two consecutive away fixtures at Chepauk represents one of the most challenging stretches in any team’s IPL 2026 schedule. The Chepauk pitch’s legendary spin-friendly nature and CSK’s home record make this a genuinely difficult four-day window for DC. How Axar Patel’s team navigates this double away assignment at one of IPL’s most intimidating venues will be a significant early indicator of DC’s title credentials.
Axar Patel’s Captaincy to Watch
The appointment of Axar Patel as DC captain is one of the most intriguing storylines of IPL 2026. A player renowned for his match-winning contributions with both bat and ball, Axar brings a calm competitive intelligence to the role that DC’s management clearly rates highly. His understanding of conditions, particularly his ability to read spin-friendly pitches that DC’s home ground at Kotla specialises in producing, could be a genuine tactical advantage as a captain who knows exactly how to set and defend totals on surfaces that suit his own bowling.
DC have assembled a squad with a healthy balance of experience and youth, and under Axar’s captaincy the team will be looking to convert the consistency they have shown in recent seasons into the playoff runs and ultimately the title that has so far eluded the franchise in its history.
What to Watch For in DC’s Campaign
Delhi Capitals have the raw talent to compete for a title in IPL 2026, and the combination of Axar Patel’s captaincy, home conditions at Kotla that suit their spin-heavy attack, and a schedule that gives them seven home fixtures provides a solid foundation for a strong campaign. Their away record, particularly in the challenging visits to Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, will determine whether they can build enough points in the first half of the season to enter the final weeks of the league stage with playoff qualification already secured.